Steven Strogatz is an applied mathematician who works in the areas of nonlinear dynamics and complex systems, often on topics inspired by the curiosities of everyday life. He loves finding math in places where you’d least expect it—and then using it to illuminate life’s mysteries, big and small. For example: Why is it so hard to fall asleep a few hours before your regular bedtime? When you start chatting with a stranger on a plane, why is it so common to find that you have a mutual acquaintance? What can twisting a rubber band teach us about our DNA? An award-winning researcher, teacher, and communicator, Strogatz enjoys sharing the beauty of math though his books, essays, public lectures, podcasts, and radio and television appearances.   Bio →

CV  |  Cornell University Page  |  Google Scholar

Big Math: The Hidden Codes That Run Our World

The epic story of how a handful of surprisingly simple mathematical ideas have sparked today’s technological breakthroughs—from Netflix’s recommendation algorithm to medical imaging to artificial intelligence and beyond—while also slipping further and further from our understanding, with potentially earth-shaking consequences.